"That gives the guys a break," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Stratton's tidy performance. "We've had some long innings here."

Stratton, the Giants' No. 1 Draft choice (20th overall) in 2012, partly benefited from advantageous timing. He was due to start for Sacramento on Saturday had he been there.

Stratton has performed almost exclusively a starter during his previous five professional seasons. He calmed himself by summoning the memory of making seven relief appearances last year during two stints with the Giants.

"The little experience I got coming out of the 'pen in long relief really helped me out," Stratton said. "I felt comfortable out there."

Stratton demonstrated that by complementing his four-seam fastball with his curveball, a pitch that isn't always effective at Coors Field due to the mile-high altitude.

"In a place like this, if you can get a curveball working, you work with it," Stratton said.